Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Altoona crushs Rock Cats, Wings route Bulls

A day off did little for the New Britain Rock Cats who got pulverized by the Altoona Curve, 10-2. Errol Simonitsch gave up 7 runs (earned) on 13 hits while striking out 4 over 5 innings. Zach Ward got tagged for 3 more runs on 4 hits and a walk over the next 2 innings.

Simo couldn't wait to get out of the Fort Myers Federal Penitentiary earlier this year; I wonder if he wants back in yet.

New Britain would score in the bottom of the 3rd when Drew Butera was hit by a pitch with two outs. A wild pitch by Derek Hankins moved him to 2nd. Felix Molina would reach on a fielding error by Altoona first baseman Jason Delaney which also allowed Butera to come home. It would tie up the game after Brad Corely homered in the second inning, this sixth of the season.

The fourth would see the Curve putting four runs on the board with Anthony Webster, Jason Bowers and Shelby Ford all doubling, and Jason Delaney and Luis Cruiz getting picking up singles of Simonitsch.

Simo would come out for the sixth inning and give up a double to Cruz and singles to Bowers and Miguel Perez before Zach Ward would come out of the bullpen. Ward would get Shelby Ford to ground into a double play, but Melvin Dorta doubled to bring in Bowers for the second run of the inning.

Ward would walk Delaney and allow singles to Webster and Cruz to load the bases in the top of the 7th. Bowers fly ball single scored Delaney. Perez would get hit by a pitch to force in another run, and Ford's ground out would plate Cruz for the 3rd run.

Trailing by nine, the Cats finally found another run in the bottom of the 9th then Erik Lis hit is 5th home run of the season. Brock Peterson would double and Matt Moses single, but David Winfree and Dustin Martin both popped out to end the inning.

Ryan Mullins (5-4, 3.48) is reported to be the unlucky recipient of a trip to the mound tonight for the Rock Cats, while the Curve counter with former Rock Cat Josh Hill (4-6, 3.94).

The Rochester Red Wings provided plenty of support for Francisco Liriano to pick up his second win of the season as they crushed the Durham Bulls, 14-2.

Liriano limited the Bulls to 1 run on six hits and a walk while striking out 7 in six innings worth of work. Caisey Daigle worked 2 innings of relief, allowing 1 hit and fanning 2.

Fernando Perez singled in the top of the 1st, stole 2nd, then came home on Joel Guzman's line drive to right for the only run Liriano would allow.

Ryan Jorgenson, and Tommy Watkins singled, but Jason Pridie would hit into an unassisted double play. Darnell McDonald then walked, a a single to Jones brought in Jorgenson. Brian Buscher followed up by going yard to bring in 3 more, making it 4-1 Wings.

Jorgenson singled in the bottom of the fourth, then came home on a Tommy Watkins double for the fifth Red Wings run.

Buscher would reach on a throwing error in the bottom of the 5th, then come home on Randy Ruiz's eighth home run of the season, which went over the center field fence.

In the end 4 different Wings went yard. Watkins finished up 3-for-5 with a run, a pair of doubles and 3 RBIs. McDonald was 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 2 runs scored. Jorgenson was also 3-for-4 with 3 runs. Jones finished up 2-for-5 with a run and a run scored.

Howie Clark (abdominal strain) did not play and remains unavailable for at least the next few days.

RHP Philip Humber (sore right elbow) will miss his scheduled start Wednesday as a precautionary measure, and reliever Julio DePaula (1-2, 5.94) will make the spot start. The Bulls will send out RHP Jeff Niemann (2-2, 3.65).

The Red Wings and Batavia Muckdogs both landed in the top 25 of all Minor League Baseball clubs for merchandise sales in 2007.

The Twins have signed six players from the 2008 First-Year Player draft: second round pick (60th overall), Tyler Ladendorf, an infielder from Howard College, third round pick Bobby Lannigan, a right handed pitcher from Adelphi University, 10th round pick Evan Bigley, an outfielder from Dallas Baptist University, 13th round pick Michael Harrington, an outfielder from College of Charleston, 21st round pick Steve Blevins, a righthanded pitcher from Marshall University and 25th round pick Alex Curry, a righthander from Cypress College. All six players have reported to the Lee County Sports Complex in Ft. Myers, where the Twins Mini-Camp started Tuesday.

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Mostly Minors

The best-kept secret in the Twins blogosphere, Fort Myers native Dianna has been blogging about Twins minor-league affiliates since 2001, but has not received as much attention as she deserves. Unhappy with the level of exposure at her last host, Dianna moved her blog to Twins Territory. Other Twins blogs may touch on the minors, but Mostly Minors owns them. The focus doesn’t stop at just the top prospects, but covers all the farmhands, from top to bottom. On top of that, a rabid Fort Myers Miracle fan, Dianna has actually seen most of the players she writes about at one point in their professional careers. Few blogs can match Mostly Minors’ originality, and if you have any interest in the Twins farm system, make this blog part of your reading routine.

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